Friction clutch operating mechanism



Sept. 22, 1936. 0.1.1. MCNEIL 4 FRICTION CLUTCH OPERATING MECHANISMFil-ed March 17, 1934 #VME/WUR 13.5,. mman.

Patented Sept. 22, r1936 UNITED STATES PATENT` OFFICE FRICTION CLUTCHOPERATING MECHANISM Application March 17, 1934, Serial No. 716,113

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to power transmitting devices, andparticularly to a friction clutch operating mechanism.

'I'he main object of this invention is to provide a unique form ofthrust mechanism whereby a mans capacity to operate a mechanism forapplying frictions is increased, thereby making it possible tosuccessfully employ a manually applied friction mechanism underconditions which would not otherwise be practical.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from thespecification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the device showing parts broken away insection.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3--3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a stationary shaft I0having a reduced friction supporting section Il and a still furtherreduced end section I2 which is supported by the bearing I3 of the sideframe I4. The bearing I3 is provided with a key slot I5 which receivesthe pin I6 projecting from the shaft section I2. A

nut I1 on the end of the section I2 holds the shaft I0 against endwisemovement, and the pin I6 holds it against rotary movement.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft I0 is a cable winding drum I8 or otherelement provided with an annular V groove I9 which receives the frictionblocks 20 made fast on the side of the drive gear 2| whose hub 22 isalso rotatable on the shaft ID. The gear 2l meshes with a suitable drivegear (not shown).

The section I I of the shaft IU has secured thereon by means of a key 23a collar 24 between which and the hub 22 is placed the end thrustbearing 25. The collar 24 is held in relation to the hub 22 by means ofa ring 26. The collar 24 is provided with a pair of parallel channels21.

Opposite the collar 24 and spaced therefrom is a thrust plate 28 whichis separated from the 50 bearing I3 by the Wedges 23 which occupychannels 30 in the bearing I3. The thrust plate 28 is clamped againstthe wedges 23 by means of the screws 3l. The thrust plate 28 is alsoprovided with channels 32 which are in alignment 55 with the channeis21. l

Between the collar 24 and the thrust plate 28 are placed the wedges 33which have their inclined surfaces provided with channels 34 whichcorrespond with the channels 21 and 32. The

60 wedges 33 are separated from the collar 24 and the thrust plate 28 bymeans of the rollers 35, which are held in their proper relationship bymeans of the cage bars 36. The wedges 33 are provided with stop pins 31and 38 at their upper and lower ends to prevent the improper posi- 5tioning of the wedge 33 with relation to the rollers 35.

The friction blocks 20 are normally held out of engagement with thegroove I9 by means of the springs 39 which occupy recesses 40 in thethrust 10 plate 28 and re-act between the heads 4I of the bolts 42,which are threaded into the collar 24 and pass through the bottom of therecess 4U.

The device is operated by means of a shaft 43 which journals in thebearing 44 in the side frame 15 I4. The shaft 43 carries on its innerend an eccentric pin 45 which bears against the face 46 of a yoke 41which unites the wedges 33. The lower ends of the wedges 33 are unitedby a yoke 48. The wedges 29 are united by a yoke 49 20 through which isthreaded a bolt 50 whose head 5| is held against the lug 52 on the sideframe I4 by the nut 53.

It can be seen from the foregoing that a rocking motion supplied by theoperator to the shaft 25 43 will be transferred by the crank pin 45 tothe yoke 41 and through it to two wedges 33 which through the rollerstransmit the thrust to the collar 24 of the roller bearing 25, by meansof which the gear 2l and its friction blocks 20 are 30 moved laterallywith relation to the drum groove I9 or longitudinally along the shaftIIJ, in a manner to force the friction blocks 2l! into the groove I9,there being only a negligible amount of the force applied expended inovercoming friction 35 within the device itself. The bars are alsosimple to construct and not easily rendered inoperative, and do notrequire extreme precision in their manufacture.

I claim:

A mechanical movement for effecting axial movement of a rotatable parton a stationary shaft consisting of a shaft, a bearing for supportingsaid shaft and adapted to hold same against endwise rotary movement, athrust plate spaced from said bearing and surrounding said shaft, a pairof wedges disposed between said thrust plate and bearing, a collarsplined on said shaft, a pair of channeled wedges disposed on oppositesides of said shaft between said thrust plate and collar, rollersdisposed within said channels adapted to engage said thrust plate andcollar, a yoke connecting said channeled wedges, means for adjusting andlocking said thrust plate, means for actuating said channeled wedges forthe purpose of producing a lateral thrust against said collar andsprings disposed between said bearing and collar for urging said collaraway from said bearing.

DONALD J. MCNEIL.

